Display device



' June 29, 1943. V G. F. IRELAND 2,323,090

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed May 29 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 29, 1943. G. F. IRELAND 2,323,090

DISPLAY DEVICE I Filed May 29,-1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 29, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE vGeorge F. Ireland, Washington, D. Application May 29', 1941, Serial No. 395,887

10 Claims.

This invention is a supporting frame primarily designed for display purposes, but not limited to such use.

One of the objects is to provide a frame of simple construction, which is readily adapted for supporting ornamental display elements possessing seasonal or patriotic motifs, and which may be readily changed without disarranging the basic structure. A further object is to provide a supporting frame of the character mentioned having relatively positioned supporting portions of ringlike form, particularly adapted to support a display motif surrounded by elements arranged to simulate a wreath.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating the supporting structure with ornamental elements attached thereto. Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2, Figure 1. is a sectional view on the line 33, Figure 1. Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 1. Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of the larger circular supporting member. Figure 6 is a detail perspective view thereof, with the ornament supporting elements removed. Figure 7 is a detail perspective view illustrating one of the ornament supporting units for the larger frame.

Referring to the drawings, A designates What will hereinafter be referred to as the wreath frame, the same consisting of a central web Ill, preferably constructed of any desired material, such as sheet metal, molded wood or plastic material, arranged in the form of a circle, and having two sets of laterally extended flanges II and I2 at its edges and extended in opposite directions. Obviously, one set of flanges may be omitted if desired. These flanges are provided with slots l3 which are circumferentially spaced, but the slots in each flange are positioned opposite slots of the other flange. The wreath member A is provided with sleeves M to receive tubular supporting rods l5 by means of which the frame A will be supported. These rods l5 are adapted to engage any type of basic support, such as the member B consisting of a base I6 having upright rods 11 adapted to telescope with the rods I5.

' Arranged around the wreath member A and between the inner and outer flanges thereof are a plurality of abutting segmental holders C, each consisting of a concavo-convex element I8 of slightly arcuate form linearly so as to conform to the curvature of the member A. These members are mitered at their ends to fit closely and are extended completely around the Wreath member A, so as to provide a continuous annular ornament-supporting means, and those members which engage the sleeves It are cut away at these Figure 3 positions for clearance purposes. Each segmental member l8 has one or more spring clips l9 embedded therein, the ends of which project from said member l8, and are provided with bent ends 20 adapted to releasably engage slots l3, so as to retain the member I8 in position. Each of the members I8 is also provided with a radial enlargement 2| of the same general contour as the holder I8, and is provided with transversely disposed openings 22 of tapered form, extending entirely therethrough. The member 2| is preferably constructed of material such as sponge rubber or other soft elastic material which will serve to grip stems or the like of ornamental elements. For purposes of illustration a spray of holly leaves L is shown as passed through an opening 22, the stem being wrapped so as to snugly fit the opening, whereby it will be securely but releasably held by the elastic material. It is to be understood that any desired number of such ornaments L may be employed, or that any other type of ornamentation which is provided with an anchoring stem maybe substituted, for instance, such as another type of artificial bloom, the idea being to provide a means for supporting numerous small articles to be arranged in circular form, in much the same manner as the elements of a floral wreath are supported.

Mounted on the rods I5 is another ornament supporting frame D, which comprises a transverse bar 30 provided with forwardly extending arms 3| at its end. Said arms support an annular member 32, which is provided with radial spokes 33 connected to a central hub-like member 34 having radial recesses 35. Said member 32 is provided with circumferentially spaced ornament-engaging clips 36, 36 which extend radially therefrom. One of the clips 36 may be employed to carry a shelf 36 to support articles of merchandise for display purposes. Also extending axially from the member 32 are other ornament engaging clips 31 which are oircumferentially spaced and radially alined with the recesses 35 of hub member H. The clips 36 are somewhat larger than similar clips 36, it being understood that it is left to the discretion of the user as to how many of the clips will be employed. The arms 3| are provided with ornament securing clips 38 which are provided also with smaller clips 39. Sleeves 40 are formed at the corners of the bar 30 and the arms 3| to slidingly receive the rods l5.

Any type of ornamentation may be employed, depending upon the arbitrary selection of the user. As shown in Figure 1, the ornamentation takes the form of a simulation of difierenttypes of fire works. shown as supporting sky rockets and the clips 39 engage and holdthe sticks thereof. The clips -31 are shown-as supporting a series For instance, the clips 38' are of Roman candles, and the same is true of clips 36. The clips 36 and 36 are shown as supporting fire crackers. It is obvious that other types of seasonal or patriotic ornamentation which are adapted to fit into the various clips, and to be grouped in accordance therewith, may be substituted as desired.

In practice, the support frame D is located in front of the frame A but in a position that the circular member 32 is slightly opposite to the space defined by the wreath ring. positioned, the desired ornaments ma be attached to the holders 2|, thereby producing a frame with a wreath-like eifect, for the other ornamentation, such as the fire works shown for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings the frame D is eccentrically located with respect to frame A, but obviously this relation may be changed at will by adjusting frame D along rods l5;

The advantages of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it belongs. It will be readily observed, for instance, that a simpleand inexpensive structure is provided for supporting ornamental display elements possessing seasonal, patriotic, or other motifs, and which may be readily changed without disarranging or modifying the basic structure. It will also be observed that simple and effective means is provided for supporting the concentrically arranged segmental holders C in such mannerthat they are securely retained in place but may be readily disengaged when desired.

Having thus explained-the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what is claimed is:

1. A display device of the character described having in combination a wreath frame consisting of: an annular body having parallel annular flanges extended outwardly from said body and at an angle thereto and so that one flange overhangs the other, an annular ornament-supporting means separate from said body and removably located between said flanges, and means extending across the space between said flanges and engaging opposite flanges for retaining the ornament-supporting means in position.

2: A display device of the character described having in combination a wreath frame consisting of an annular body having-parallel annular flanges extended outwardly therefrom and at an angle thereto so that one flange overhangs the other, a plurality of independent segmental members separate from said body and independent. of each other, said members being arranged in end for end relation between the flanges so as to provide an'annul'ar ornamentsupporting means, and" means extending across the space between said flanges and engaging opposite flanges. for retaining said segments in position.

3. In adisplay device, awreath frame provided with parallel annular flanges, a plurality of segmental members located between said flanges in such manner as to provide an annular ornamentsupporting means, each of said segmental members having an external enlargement provided with longitudinally arranged ornament'z-engaging openings, and means for anchoring said members.

to said frame.

4. A supporting frame of the character described. comprising an: annular. member: in the:

When sov aszaoco form of a circular web provided with flanges at its inner and outer edges, said flanges having spaced apart slots therein, and a plurality of segmental members located between said flanges, each member having clips for releasably engaging said slots and each having ornament-engaging openings.

5. A supporting frame of the character described comprising an annular member in the form of a circular web provided with flanges at its inner and outer edges, said flanges having spaced apart slots therein, and a plurality of segmental members located between said flanges, each member having clips for releasably engaging said slots and each provided with an exterior enlargement having ornament-engaging openings therein.

6. A supporting frame of the character described comprising an annular member in the form of a circular web provided with flanges at its inner and outer edges, said flanges having spaced apart slots therein, and a. plurality of segmental members located between said flanges, each member having clips for releasably engaging said slots, each segmental member having a curved enlargement of a length less than that of its segmental member, so as to provide end shoulders, said enlargement having openings leading inwardly from said shoulders.

7. A supporting frame of the character described comprising an annular member in the form of a circular web provided with flanges at its inner and outer edges, said flanges having spaced apart slots therein, and a plurality of segmental members located between said flanges, each member having clips for releasably engaging said slots, each segmental member having a curved enlargement of a length less than that of its segmental member, so as to provide end shoulders, each of said enlargements being constructed of soft elastic material and having inwardly tapered openings arranged along said shoulders.

8. In a display device, a wreath frame pro.- vided with parallel annular flanges, a plurality of segmental members of curved cross-section located between said flanges with their convex surfaces outward, each of said members having an external enlargement of a-rcuate cross-section. and means for anchoring said members to said frame.

9. A supporting frame, fordisplay purposes. comprising an annular member having" a central web with the edges thereof provided with lateral flanges, so as to provide. two relatively spaced annular flanges: on each side thereof, anda plurality of segmental memberslocated between and. engaging. opposite flanges of each set,v so asto provide an annular ornament-supporting: means on both sides of said frame,,each segmental meme ber'having enlarged portions provided with ornament-engaging openings therein.

10. In a display. frame, an annular member of relatively thin material provided with: flanged edges, the. flanges having circumferentially spaced slots therein, the slots in each fiange regis tering with the slots of the other flange, and a. plurality of concavo-convexsegmental members filling the space between said flanges and each provided at their edges with clips engageable with saidslots, eachof said segmental members having an enlarged" portion provided. with ornament-engaging openings therein..

GEORGE F. IRELAND. 

